Free 2 B Free — July 28, 2024
July 28, 2024
Galatians 5:1, 13-26
Free 2 B Free
Rev. Terry Carty
These days it is tempting to confuse our nationalism and our patriotism with our Christianity. Not only is this the last Sunday of our Summer Concert Worship Series, but it is also kind of the end of what I consider to be the ‘patriotic season’ that began with the Fourth of July. This year especially religion and politics have been co-mingled in some dangerous ways.
In the past, I have been criticized for being un-American for not having enough patriotic content in worship. And I have been criticized for being un-Christian for focusing more on American values than on Christian values. And all of that was in the same worship service!
Over the years I have tried to find the right balance. I will continue that balancing effort today.
My military service story ended early on a February day standing on a street corner with an extra bus token in my pocket. It started a year earlier when I was a student at Tennessee Tech. The war in Vietnam was escalating and the government had eliminated draft deferments for students. I got my notice to come for my pre-draft physical and I passed. I did not want to get drafted (Army ROTC was required at Tech and I had joined the elite drill team) – but the prospect of going to war was terrifying. I considered going to Canada or declaring myself a conscientious objector. I tried to join the National Guard, but they were already full. I even called in some favors and got an appointment to talk with the governor about getting me into the National Guard – but he said that he couldn’t do it right at that time.
So, I resigned myself to getting drafted, sold most of my stuff (I didn’t have much stuff back then) and I got ready to leave. One week before I was to be inducted, I stepped off a high sidewalk and broke my ankle. (Really, it was an accident.) I showed up for induction with a cast up to my knee and they sent me home. I got another induction notice 3 months later, but I had complications with the break, and I was still in the cast. I was called in for another pre-draft physical the next January and passed. So, I was called to be inducted a third time in February. I was standing in the line with my hand up to be sworn into the army when the Sergeant pulled me out of line and gave me two bus tokens and an address of a civilian doctor. They told me to ride a bus to the doctor for a second opinion about my ankle injury, and then use the second token to come back to the draft board to go to boot camp.
I was amazed when the doctor found that the ankle had not healed properly. He said that I would not be drafted and told me to just go home. So, there I stood on the sidewalk, waiting for my ride, an unused bus token back to the draft board in my pocket – and contemplating what I would do with my sudden freedom.
What did I do with my new freedom? Well, I went back to school and finished my engineering degree. Beyond that I don’t feel like I used my freedom well. I started growing my hair and wearing peace signs. I used every opportunity to criticize the war. I even participated in antiwar rallies. I became an “anti-patriot.” I, like so many others in the US, blamed the government, the soldiers, big business, and anyone else for the unpopular war. I used my freedom in ways that kept me from appreciating the great sacrifices that others were making in order for me to have the choices I was making.
In those days I was unable to separate my feelings about an unpopular war from my response to the brave warriors who made sacrifices for my freedom. Since then I think I have learned a lot about true freedom. Today when I see uniformed warriors, I usually thank them for their service. I join others in applauding when a military group passes by in an airport.
I was in awe as I watched the series on HBO about the 1st Marine Division in the 2nd World War in The Pacific. My father-in-law served in that division - Guadalcanal, Okinawa and Iwo Jima - and my Dad’s navy ship provided support. Their sacrifice was incredible, and I was humbled by their willingness to serve – I felt small and petty for my efforts to avoid the draft and my antiwar efforts.
In our scripture for today Paul says, “For freedom Christ has set us free.” I like the Peterson translation [The Message] “Christ has set us free to live a free life.” He emphasizes, “Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever YOU want to do and destroy your freedom.”
We often destroy our freedom by feeling free to do whatever we want to do. Just as I let my freedom from serving in the military result in not appreciating the same freedom, Paul helps us understand that if we use our spiritual freedom to justify our selfishness, we spoil the life that God intends for us. Being self-centered makes us anything but what God intends for us.
Freedom is intended to enable us to live as God lives – for the greater good of creation.
As patriots, we can celebrate the national freedom that has been insured by the lives of many who have served and sacrificed. And as Christians, we can celebrate a much greater freedom that was insured by the life and sacrifice of Jesus. As Christians, we commit to seek to live as Christ lived. We commit to using our freedom to win freedom for others. We commit to loving even as God loves.
Again, we hear the words of Paul as translated by Peterson [The Message]: “what happens when we live God's way?” He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard — things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
It is ok in this patriotic and political season that people will recognize us as Americans by our fireworks, our flags, and by wearing the red, white, and blue. I challenge each of us to also be recognizable as citizens of the Kingdom of God. This will happen not by how we dress but by how we live. I challenge us to let our families, our neighbors, our co-workers recognize Jesus in the way we live and the way we love. I challenge us to make sure they hear the word of God in our conversations with them. May God ‘bring gifts into [y]our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard.’ [The Message]
Garth sings:
When nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and that's mankind
Then we shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith, hold out
We shall be free
Prayer:
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 258, public domain)
Benediction:
Sisters and brothers, we are not dismissed. We are not just free to go.
Christ sends us!
Stand straight, walk proud, have faith, hold out
Go in the power of the Spirit to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.